Addressing the Italian Parliament last week, Syrian Director
General of Antiquities and Museums Maamoun Abdulkarim was grim in his
assessment of the situation facing archaeological sites in his homeland. With
up to 300 sites under the control of the so-called Islamic State (IS), Syria's
magnificent cultural heritage faces a double risk. On the one hand IS continues
to destroy artefacts it considers idolatrous. On the other, it is heavily
involved in antiquities trafficking as a ready source of funds for its struggle.
Sadly no happy ending is yet in sight.
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